There Is a List — and It Is Getting Shorter
If you have a family member with a developmental disability in Florida, you may have heard the term "the waiting list." It's one of those phrases that carries a particular weight — the sense that help is out there, but out of reach, and that you may be waiting for a long time.
There is good news. And it is worth knowing.
The Waiting List Has a New Name
Florida officially changed the terminology several years ago. What was once called the waiting list is now known as APD pre-enrollment. The change reflects a shift in how the state thinks about this population: these are not people being turned away. They are people who have been determined eligible for APD services and are awaiting the funding to make those services possible.
APD pre-enrollment is managed through the iBudget Waiver program. To be placed in pre-enrollment, an individual must first be determined eligible for APD services — which means they have a qualifying developmental disability diagnosis and meet the state's criteria for the program. Pre-enrollment is not a rejection. It is a confirmed place in line.
The Numbers Are Moving in the Right Direction
For years, Florida's APD pre-enrollment list hovered in the low-to-mid twenties of thousands. At recent counts, the number stood around 22,000 people — a figure that reflects both the demand for services and the challenge of funding them at scale.
As of the most recent reporting shared at the APD Quarterly Provider Meeting, that number has dropped to approximately 16,000. That represents roughly 6,000 people who have moved from pre-enrollment into active services — real individuals who now have access to group homes, adult day training, supported employment, in-home support, and other waiver-funded services.
APD leadership credited this progress to a coordinated effort: support from Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, work by the APD director and regional teams, engagement from community partners and providers, and families making informed decisions about the options available to them. The movement is real, and it is sustained.
What Pre-Enrollment Means in Practice
Being in APD pre-enrollment means your family member is recognized by the state as someone who qualifies for and needs these services. It means your place in the system is documented. And it means that as funding becomes available, individuals move from pre-enrollment into the iBudget Waiver program and can begin accessing services.
Priority for movement off the pre-enrollment list is typically based on factors including the severity of need, the individual's living situation, and the level of caregiver support available. Families can work with their Waiver Support Coordinator or APD's regional office to ensure that the documentation supporting their loved one's need level is current and accurate.
What You Can Do While Waiting
Pre-enrollment does not mean doing nothing. There are meaningful steps families can take during this period to prepare and to advocate:
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- Ensure all diagnostic and support documentation is up to date. Outdated evaluations can delay the transition from pre-enrollment to active services.
- Connect with your APD regional office. Staff can help you understand where your family member stands and what documentation may strengthen the case for expedited consideration.
- Research providers now. Visiting group homes, meeting staff, and asking questions before you receive a referral means you are ready to act quickly when your loved one's time comes.
- Understand the iBudget Waiver. Knowing what services are available — residential habilitation, adult day training, companion services, supported employment, behavioral services — helps you advocate for the right level of support when the funding becomes available.
- Stay in contact with your Waiver Support Coordinator. Your WSC is your primary guide through the APD system. If you don't currently have one assigned, contact your APD regional office to request one.
A Word About Managed Care
Some families navigate the APD system through Florida's managed care programs, such as the Integrated Managed Medical Assistance (iACCMC) program. Individuals enrolled in these programs have already been approved as APD-eligible and work with a managed care organization to coordinate services — including group home placement. If your family member is in a managed care plan, your path to services may look somewhat different from the standard iBudget Waiver process, but the same core resources apply.
You Are Not Alone in This
Navigating the APD system — especially from pre-enrollment — can feel isolating. The paperwork is real, the timelines can be long, and the weight of caregiving doesn't pause while you wait. But the system is moving, the list is shrinking, and there are people at every level of the APD network whose job is to help families like yours get to the other side of it.
At Audubon Gardens Group, we work with families at every stage of the journey — whether they're actively receiving a referral or still navigating pre-enrollment. If you have questions about what group home placement looks like, what to expect from the transition process, or simply want to visit one of our homes to see what's possible, we welcome that conversation.
Related Articles
- APD Services List: What Support Is Available? — A full breakdown of the services available through Florida's APD programs.
- How Group Home Placement Works in Florida — From referral to move-in day — the full placement process explained.
Key Florida APD Resources
If you need help navigating the APD system, these are the direct contacts to know:
- Department of Children and Families – ACCESS: 850-300-4323 | myflorida.com
- Social Security Administration: 800-772-1213 | ssa.gov
- Florida Managed Care Choice Counseling: 877-711-3662 | flmedicaidmanagedcare.com
- Medicare: 800-633-4227 | Medicare.gov
- Medicaid Helpline: 877-254-1055
- APD Central Region Medicaid Liaison – Christine Martin: 863-413-3374 | Christine.Martin@apdcares.org
- Florida Abuse Hotline (mandated reporting): 1-800-962-2873
- APD Central Region Incident Reports: Central.Incidentreports@apdcares.org
- APD After-Hours Critical Incident Line: 863-255-2695
About Audubon Gardens Group
Audubon Gardens Group operates two licensed 24-hour nursing residential care homes in Orlando, Florida — The Garden at Bennett and The Garden at Ibis. We serve medically acute and complex adults under Florida's APD iBudget Waiver, providing not just care, but a life genuinely worth living.
To learn more about our homes or begin a conversation about placement, visit aggcares.com or contact our team directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for APD pre-enrollment in Florida?
Contact your local APD regional office to begin the eligibility determination process. An individual must have a qualifying developmental disability diagnosis under Chapter 393, Florida Statutes, and must meet ICF/IID level of care criteria. Once eligibility is confirmed, the individual is placed in pre-enrollment.
How many people are on Florida's APD pre-enrollment list?
As of the most recent APD reporting, approximately 16,000 people are in pre-enrollment — down from a recent high of around 22,000. This progress reflects sustained investment from the state legislature and coordinated efforts across APD and community partners.
What qualifying disabilities make someone eligible for APD services?
APD serves individuals with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities that manifest before age 18 and are expected to continue indefinitely.
What is the QSI and why does it matter?
The QSI (Questionnaire for Situational Information) is an assessment tool used by APD to measure an individual's support needs. It evaluates daily living, behavior, medical needs, and personal care requirements. The QSI score directly determines the individual's iBudget allocation — the amount of funding available for waiver services.
What happens after my loved one is approved for the iBudget Waiver?
Once funded, your loved one is assigned a budget allocation based on the QSI assessment. A Waiver Support Coordinator (WSC) is assigned to develop a support plan and cost plan. Services — including group home placement, if applicable — are then arranged through the referral and transition process.
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